Banjo.



I. PILLMAN. BANJO. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 190e.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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IRVIN FILLMAN, OF *WAURIKA OKLAHOMA.

BANJO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application led August 24, 1908. Serial No. 449,923.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, lnvrN FILLMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at W aurika, in the county or" Jefferson and State of Oklahoma,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instrumentsand more particularly those of the banjo type.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved string peg andmeans for mounting the same in the neck of a banjo or the like.

W ith the above and other obj ects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel features of construction and the combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view ci the improvedmusical instrument; Fig. 2 is a side or edge view oi the same; Fig. 3 isan enlarged sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-8in Fig. 2; Fig. d is an enlarged side viewof the parts shown in Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the key andthe adjusting peg or plug; Fig. 6 is a detail transverse section takenon the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of thepeg or plug; and Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion oir' the rim ofthe banjo head showing a spring for retaining the key within the head.

The improved instrument comprises a head 1 similar to a banjo head and aneck 2 similiar to a guitar neck. The head l is of the usual form andconstruction, consisting of a metal ring 3 covered with gut 4 which issecured by tension vclamps 5. Arranged upon the neck 2 are the usual sixstrings 6 of a guitar and in addition a short string 7 similar to theshort 'fifth string of a banjo. The strings 6 and 7 are attached to theusual tail piece 8 upon the head and the strings 6 have their oppositeends attached to the usual keys 9 upon the neck 2. The other end of thestring 7 is passed through an aperture 10 in an adjusting peg or plug11, which has a cylindrical outer portion 12 upon which the string 7 iswound and an inner tapered or cone-shaped portion 13 which fits and isrictionally retained in a similar shaped socket 14 formed in one side ofthe neck 2 at the outer extremity of an enlarged or thickened portion 15of said neck. The outer extremity of the plug 11 has a reduced squaredstem 16 in two of the opposite faces of which are formed transversenotches or fr grooves 16a, the bottoms of which are angularly disposedso as to provide stop shoulders 16b on said stem. This stem is adaptedto enter an elongated rectangular socket 17 a in the end oi' a removablekey 17 which is used for tightening and loosening the peg and also forremoving the same. rl`he engagement of the squared stem 16 with the ilatfaces of the rectangular socket 17a will cause the stem to rotate withthe key .e

when the latter is turned so that the peg may be rotated to tighten orloosen the string 7.

In order to enable the key to be used for removing the peg the cavity17b in the key in rear of said socket 17a is slightly enlarged toprovide a shoulder 17C. By turning the key in the pro `er directionafter the latter has been forcer inwardly upon the peg, the shoulder 17C will be caused to engage with the shoulders 161D so that when the keyis pulled outwardly the peg will be drawn outwardly with it. The peg 11lies beneath the plane of the upper surface of the neck 2 and to reduceJfriction and wear upon the string 7 the latter passes through a passage18 formed in the outer extremity of the enlarged portion 15 oi the neck,as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The outer extremity oi the peg 11 liesbeneath the outer edge or side of said enlarged portion 15 of the neckand in order to prevent said plug 'from interfering with the Jfreemovement of the players hand along` the edge of the neck a guard plate19 is provided and arranged over said plug, as shown. Said guard 19 isin the form of a metal strip having one end set in and secured at 20 tothe enlarged portion 15 of the neck and its other end set in and securedat 21 to the reduced or outer portion of said neck. The intermediateortion olf the guard plate or strip is curvedilongitudinally over thepeg 1l and at a suitable point in it is formed an opening 22 whichregisters with the stem 16 or' the peg and is adapted to receive the key17. A slot 23 is also formed in the stri J in communication with the oening 22 so t at the peg with the wire may ce placed in position in theneck and removed therefrom. This guard plate being constructed andarranged as shown, will provide a bridge over the projecting outer endof the peg so that the latter 'vi/fili not` interfere With the freesliding movement of the players hand along the neck of the. instrumentin laying the latter. In order to prevent the ey fronrbeing lost when itis notl in use I preferably provide ineans for sup orting it upon theinner face of the rirn of t e banjo head. This supporting means isshovvn in Fig. 8 as in the form 'or' a small leaf-spring secured at oneof its ends and having its curved free end bearing against the rim ofthe head. The free end of the spring may be readily slipped through theopening in the linger piece or' the key so that the latter Will beretained in the banjo head by the spring7 as shown in dotted lines inFie. '8. Y

IIaving thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A stringed musical instrument coinprising a head, a neck having anenlarged poi-tion on oneV side, a plurality of long strings and a shortstring7 a4 peg for the short string arranged at the outer extremity ofthe enlarged portion of the neck and having means at its outer end forthe reception or' a removable key and a curved guard arranged upon theside of the neck and disposed over said key. Y Y I 2.K stringed musicalinstrument cornprising a head, a neck having an enlarged portion on oneside, a plurality of long strings and a short string, a peg for theshort stringv arranged at the outer ezxtreinity of the' enlarged portionof the neck and having means at its outer end 'for thereception of aremovable key, and a longitudinally curved guard plate disposed over theouter end of the key and having its ends set in and iiushwith the edgeof the neck, said plate having an opening disposed op osite the outerend of the peg, substanta y as described. l

3. A stringed musical instrument cornprising a head, a neck having anenlarged portion on one side and a socket, a plurality of long stringsand a short string, a peg for the short string arranged in said socketand having a reduced Hat faced stern provided in one face With atransverse groove Yto form a shoulder, a guard arranged upon the side ofthe neck and disposed over said peg, said guard being formed with anopening disposed opposite the outer end or" the peg, and a key having aflat 'faced socket portion to receive the stein of the peg whereby the Mlatter may be rotated, said key also having a shoulder to engage theshoulder upon the stem whereby the peg may be Withdrawn from the neck. yl Y y In testimony whereof I hereunto 'affix my signature Yin thepresence of tivo Witnesses.

.7 IRVIN FILLMAN. Witnesses: Y

HAYs DLLAD, IRA JENITO.

